Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Merced, CA
Correctional Officers and Jailers in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $78,370 a year ($37.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,540 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $58,940. Pay here is 19% lower than the California statewide median of $96,370. There are 3.4 correctional officers and jailers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $77,060, close to the median.
Pay range for correctional officers and jailers in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| 25th percentile | $67,430 | $32.42 |
| Median | $78,370 | $37.68 |
| 75th percentile | $87,610 | $42.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,540 | $45.45 |
| Average (mean) | $77,060 | $37.05 |
Half of correctional officers and jailers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,530.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,265.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,014.23 |
| Weekly | $1,507.12 |
| Hourly | $37.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $132,670 | 1,050 |
| Salinas, CA | $109,620 | 1,510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $107,220 | 3,280 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $107,220 | 710 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $107,220 | 1,220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,880 | 1,500 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $94,740 | 470 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $94,730 | 4,800 |
| Fresno, CA | $94,010 | 2,660 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $89,730 | 1,920 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $80,950 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,770 | 6,070 |
| Redding, CA | $57,960 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for correctional officers and jailers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $96,370 |
| New Jersey | $94,770 |
| Massachusetts | $86,310 |
| Oregon | $83,690 |
| Washington | $79,460 |
| Illinois | $79,190 |
| New York | $76,820 |
| Nevada | $76,490 |
| Wisconsin | $73,470 |
| Alaska | $71,360 |
See Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $82,540 | $39.68 |
| Security Guard | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| Firefighter | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $121,720 | $58.52 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-3012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a correctional officers and jailers make in Merced, CA?
The median salary for correctional officers and jailers in the Merced, CA metro area is $78,370 a year, or $37.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid correctional officers and jailers make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of correctional officers and jailers in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $94,540 a year. The top 25% earn $87,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for correctional officers and jailers in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,070 a year, and a quarter of correctional officers and jailers earn $67,430 or less.
How many correctional officers and jailers work in Merced, CA?
About 270 correctional officers and jailers are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.